"I’ve beat (Dan) Miller (last time out at UFC 114),” Bisping tells The Canadian Press this week. “I’m going to beat Akiyama and I want a top name after that, fingers crossed. If I do the business (on Saturday) then it’s got to be a title shot after that, I think."

But Mike, you might be wondering, what about that embarrassing knockout loss to Dan Henderson at UFC 100 and the decision defeat to Wanderlei Silva at UFC 110? Well, he’s is glad you asked. The Henderson fight was little more than a learning experience, Bisping says, and the loss to “The Axe Murderer?” That was a bullshit screwjob.

"I hit Wanderlei with a few big, massive punches and there’d be no reaction from the crowd," Bisping says. "Wanderlei would barely make contact with me, with like a slap or something, and the entire arena would burst into fits of excitement … So I think that might possibly have swayed (the judges)."

Whether or not you’re buying that explanation, The Canadian Press eats it up with a spoon, giving Bisping what can only be described as a glowing write-up here. The other CP describes Bisping as “no whiner” and “no slouch when it comes to style” while writing around his many faults as much as possible. It even goes as far as to suggest his lack of popularity in the states could be because American fans simply don’t “get” Bisping. Like he’s a goddamned David Lynch movie or some shit.

Bisping himself claims to have come of age, both as a fighter and as a man. He’s got a whole new attitude, he says, and from here on out will be all about finishing fights.

Says Bisping: "In the past, I was kind of like ‘Well if I go in there and get to a decision and this and that, I’d be happy with that.’ But I’m past that, I couldn’t care less about that. I been in the ring with legends now. I’ve fought them. I’ve been around a bit now. Now it’s (time) for people to start worrying about me and fearing me. And it’s time for me to become one of those guys. And I truly believe I can.”

Yep, that last claim puts him right on schedule. At this point, Bisping is one or two losses away from announcing that “the old Michael Bisping is back.” Stay tuned for that.

Cagepotato Comments

Showing 1-25 of comments

Why would they say Akiyama is 2-0 in the octagon? I understand Leben has no father, but what the fuck?

fightfan- October 16, 2010 at 2:42 pm

PLEASE let pillowfists fight Marquardt next. Nate will land ONE hard shot and pillowfists will be running and running adn Nate will destroy. Bisping is absolute worst fighter when he gets hit and retreats

fightfan- October 16, 2010 at 2:40 pm

SO sick of the orgasmic response from Rogan and Goldie....it is sickening how they makes a decent performance against an old undersized guy that gasses out in the 2nd.

Rogan sounds like he is talking about Fedor or Tyson. I guess he was forced to overcompensate for the UK's HORRIBLE main card performances....

Typical UK guys....overly arrogant and cocky and more arrogant when they are handed things and when they lose it is bullshit.

Hardy gets an ovation like that cuz he beat Mike swick???? They give him anther contender....he will lose and SHOULD BE cut....but it is the UK

fightfan- October 16, 2010 at 2:34 pm

Thank god

ONly the end of hearing that douchebags mouth.....until the UFC gives him another winnable fight

fightfan- October 16, 2010 at 2:31 pm

I guess Doucheping gets to kick huis opponents nuts to get an advantage also

fightfan- October 16, 2010 at 2:24 pm

PLus guys like Jorge Riveria and Sakara are 4-0 in past 4 fights...and even CB Douchaway is 4-1 in last 5.....

but Douchping gets to kick his opponenets in the nuts and then pummel him while the ref says go ahead

WTF?????

fightfan- October 16, 2010 at 2:21 pm

UK guys are SO DELUSIONAL!!! Main event of 120 and NO UK GUYS won a single fight. Hardy must of caught that cockiness.

Bispign never beat a top guy and he desereves a title shot??? DELSUIONAL.

Actually kind of funny, they maek EVERY fight for Bisping the MOST winnable. Akiyama is coming of a loss, and two if you thinkl he lost to Belcher....and this makes a title shot contender??

Mr_Misanthropy- October 16, 2010 at 2:17 pm

Just for the record I feel this term "practice" is poorly utilized within the context of general speech anyway. It is a poorly defined term. How is it that the same word is used for learning a skill and also demonstrating competency in it at the same time? This situation needs to be rectified. For instance, when I go to the doctor it always makes me feel uncomfortable that they are characterized as "practicing" medicine. After twelve years of medical school, shouldn't doctors be competent enough to "do" medicine?

Shaky- October 16, 2010 at 2:14 pm

Bisping is most certainly cocky by English standards but at the same time I don't think the "American fans get it". The cheekyness can be misconstrued for arrogance and a lot of the time he is not being malicious but people react like he is. Love the David Lynch joke, that was nice, son.

Mr_Misanthropy- October 16, 2010 at 2:05 pm

^How do you practice journalism, I wonder? Do you get your friends to stage fake events and then write tantalizing exposes on your unique perspective of the situation to be critiqued by the other parties involved? Do you stand in front of a flood light holding a microphone in a torrential downpour all by yourself for hours in the middle of the night? Is constructing a scale replica of your local television news affiliate's anchor desk from a cardboard refrigerator box and then sitting there in a suit and tie for five hours in front of your mom's camcorder in her basement practicing journalism? Am I practicing journalism by asking a series of loaded questions that I have already pre-determined what responses I am looking for?

A wise green midget once said, "Journal or journal not, there is no practice." If I can find it in the public domain and it has been published, it's journalism.

BryanF- October 16, 2010 at 2:04 pm

@NinjaNerd 8

The fuck? Nobody comes here for "journalistic integrity". CP is one of the slowest sites out their in terms of stories hitting their front page.

People come here for horribly slanted bias written in an exaggerated tone to make them laugh. And I thank them for it.

CagePotato: "We don't break news. We break balls, son."

SnallTrippin- October 16, 2010 at 1:47 pm

Ninja, yeah...you should look up the word bias.

"a particular tendency or inclination, esp. one that prevents unprejudiced consideration of a question; prejudice. "

....focus on that last part. See? "That prevents unprejudiced..."

...see it now? Yeah. We hate the blood sausage guy cause he's a dick AND he's not half as good as he thinks he is...hell, I'll even like Brock if he wins a couple more fights...but when your arrogance is coupled with mediocrity...you only look like a fool. And Mr. T shall show you his pity face.

Mr_Misanthropy- October 16, 2010 at 1:37 pm

Blimey!

NinjaNerd8- October 16, 2010 at 1:15 pm

The comments so far just about sum up CP's bias against Bisping (and many other fighters).

When is this news site going to practice journalism, I wonder.

Ballkick- October 16, 2010 at 1:12 pm

I think I speak for all non-retarded Canadians when I say the Canadian Press are a pack of Artards!..... Bisping deserves "Nothing"......absolutely nothing!
I truly agree with the above post I hope Sexyama channels Hendo and puts an end to any and all Bisping's delusions of grandure.
The dude is a choad......a huge choad.

phantom56- October 16, 2010 at 12:53 pm

"Now it's (time) for people to start worrying about me and fearing me"

hahahahahahahaha!!!!

rampageisgod- October 16, 2010 at 12:22 pm

Quite.

jimbonics- October 16, 2010 at 11:55 am

right.

SnallTrippin- October 16, 2010 at 11:34 am

...so, just to get this straight- We all want Aki to channel Hendo in this fight, right? Right.

tnbp- October 16, 2010 at 11:05 am

@WPM

I agree. The title of this is completely misleading. Normally, I don't bother with critiquing the articles on the site or talk about the writing or the grammar or spelling or anything else but this mistake is pretty egregious. To take a direct quote and either twist it or misrepresent it so badly is truly something...

But to the (misconstrued) point of the article, I think Bisping should have to win 2 fights against top opponents if he beats Akiyama. If he wins against 2 top guys, that's enough for me to earn a shot.

Bill Jackson- October 16, 2010 at 10:54 am

I don't see how Akiyama is lucky to be 1-1. I saw him clearly winning two rounds against Belcher, and if anything he is unlucky that he got a switch of opponent two weeks before his fight with Leben. Granted Leben isn't someone you need a complex game plan for but still. Akiyama is no slouch and he will win tonight.

Fried Taco- October 16, 2010 at 10:39 am

Damn Canadians.

mynameisalsoben- October 16, 2010 at 10:35 am

So Michael "Stick-and-Move" Bisping is all about finishing fights now? Good luck with that one Mikey.
And Wanderlei beat his ass, it wasn't even close. Bisping's been whining constantly ever since that fight that he got robbed and screwed blah blah blah....if Wand is such a legend to him then he should show some respect. But that's not how Michael "Always a Chip on my Shoulder" Bisping operates, mate.

rearnakedchickenchoke- October 16, 2010 at 10:34 am

Wait, wait. Bisping says this:

"I hit Wanderlei with a few big, massive punches and there'd be no reaction from the crowd," Bisping says. "Wanderlei would barely make contact with me, with like a slap or something, and the entire arena would burst into fits of excitement … So I think that might possibly have swayed (the judges)."

And yet still gets upset in the pre-fight presser when there is an implication about the crowd swaying the judges (if left to go to decision). One more reason to dislike him (being a hypocrite). Hendo's ko and followup were the best things that ever happened to Bisping.

budsellers- October 16, 2010 at 10:30 am

i think we can rest easy. bisping will not get a title shot after beating akiyama. americans will not buy it. just based on roster and schedule alone, he will have to fight at least 1 more time in the winter, and likely another time in the spring, before the belt holder, whoever it may be at that time, will be ready for another title defense.

i think bisping is just using a play from the book of sonnen. do not waste the media attention: talk as much madness about yourself and your title shot worthiness as you can while the cameras are on you.

that makes me realize that i want to see my 2 favorite mma douchebags, who also happen to be in the same division, fight eachother asap... bisping vs sonnen

Kimbos Bread- October 16, 2010 at 10:27 am

@WPM

Agreed. This article is stupid.

SnallTrippin- October 16, 2010 at 10:06 am

It's a helluva drug.

WPM- October 16, 2010 at 10:00 am

Bisping said if he beats Akiyama he wants a big name next. If he can do that, and win both fights, then he should be up there for a title shot. Way to misquote, asshat.

danomite- October 16, 2010 at 9:53 am

so is Bitchping saying he gets rocked when someone slaps him? If I remember correctly Wanderlei dropped him at least once. He was getting tooled by Wand almost the entire fight. This guy is a delusional ass-hat, and I call next after CAP10.

amsterdamheavy- October 16, 2010 at 9:45 am

I just can't stand Bisping. WTF is going on in this picture? They sunning themselves in someone's limey driveway? I didnt think they got enough sun there to even do that; shit I thought they barely get enough sunlight over there to support photosynthesis.